Kansanshi output falls to 43,997 tonnes despite expansion throughput exceeding design capacity
Key Facts
Copper production at Zambia's Kansanshi mine fell to 43,997 tonnes in the second quarter of 2026, despite the expansion circuit continuing to process ore at rates above its design capacity, according to First Quantum Minerals' results for the period. Output declined by 1,348 tonnes from the previous quarter as planned maintenance reduced total ore throughput. The company said higher ore grades partly offset the impact of lower throughput on copper production during the period. Output remained above its level in the second quarter of 2025, when the mine produced 40,103 tonnes, according to the company's results for the corresponding period. The performance followed Kansanshi's highest annual copper production in 2025 since 2021.
At the expansion, the company said the processing circuit achieved its highest monthly throughput rate in May 2026, while continuing to operate above design capacity during the second quarter. The project's original design included a standalone processing plant with capacity for 25 million tonnes of ore annually. First Quantum had previously reported in its first-quarter results that milling rates had stabilised at about 25% above design capacity. The company attributed that performance to increased operating time and strong equipment utilisation, supporting the processing of low-grade stockpiles. It said in those quarterly results that milling rates had stabilised at a level "approximately 25% above design capacity".
Meanwhile, Kansanshi's copper operating cash cost reached $2.16 per pound in the second quarter, up $0.47 from the previous quarter, according to the company. First Quantum attributed the increase to higher fuel and consumables expenses, alongside lower gold by-product credits. Feed for the expansion circuit relies heavily on surface ore stockpiles, according to the company's first-quarter results. These stockpiles have lower grades than freshly mined ore and are being used until stripping work at the South East Dome is completed. The company expects feed to consist primarily of fresher, higher-grade ore from the pit starting in 2027.
The expansion began commercial production on December 1, 2025, following a successful commissioning period, according to First Quantum's fourth-quarter results for that year. The expansion concentrator's stability improved following modifications to conveyor routing in the crushing and milling circuit. The company said these changes helped increase operating time as part of operational improvements accompanying the facility's entry into service. In the production and guidance announcement, Chief Executive Tristan Pascall said "the project was completed under budget". First Quantum owns an 80% stake in Kansanshi Mining, which owns and operates the mine.
The smelter's capacity following the expansion is about 1.6 million tonnes annually, according to the company's Kansanshi operations page. Kansanshi is also a significant regional producer of sulphuric acid, producing about 1.1 million tonnes in 2025. Acid supplied by the smelter is used in copper extraction, as part of the site's role in supplying mining operations with the material. The company says copper mined at Kansanshi is used worldwide to power homes and manufacture electric vehicles and renewable energy infrastructure. Nationally, Zambia aims to raise copper production to 3 million tonnes by 2031, according to the Presidential Delivery Unit.
First Quantum maintained Kansanshi's annual copper production target range at 175,000 to 205,000 tonnes for 2026 in its second-quarter results. The range was retained despite the decline in quarterly output and the increase in costs per pound during the same period. The company is scheduled to release its third-quarter financial and operating results on October 28, 2026, after the Toronto Stock Exchange closes, according to its results notification. It will hold a conference call and webcast to discuss those results on October 29, 2026. The company set the discussion for 9:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time.